Amman: The Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Dina Bashir, met on Monday with the Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan, Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, to discuss ways to boost bilateral cooperation, particularly at the parliamentary level, and address regional issues of mutual interest.
According to Jordan News Agency, Bashir highlighted the deep ties between Jordan and the Holy See, emphasizing the importance of building on historic bonds and enhancing coordination to support peace efforts and promote values of coexistence. She underscored the pivotal role of His Majesty King Abdullah II in advancing interfaith and intercultural dialogue and defending Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, efforts that have won international recognition and respect.
Committee members, including MPs Badr Harahsheh, Wasfi Haddad, Ibrahim Tarawneh, Mohammad Aql, Mai Sardiyah, Hael Ayash, Iyad Jabareen, Jamal Qamouh, Mustafa Amrawi, Issa Nassar, Jihad Madanat, and Jihad Abwai, said Jordan is a unique model of social cohesion and coexistence based on mutual respect among its diverse religious and cultural components. They noted that Jordan’s harmony is the result of a longstanding Hashemite approach rooted in tolerance and openness as a solid foundation for security and stability.
They also commended the Catholic Church’s humanitarian and spiritual role in promoting peace and defending human rights, reaffirming their support for Jordan’s steadfast position on protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and rejecting Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and their sacred places. The lawmakers further stressed the need to promote Christian pilgrimage to Jordan’s religious sites and boosting religious tourism to highlight the Kingdom’s image as a destination of religious tolerance.
Dal Toso expressed deep appreciation of Jordan as a model of religious coexistence and an inspiration for the Middle East and Europe, especially amid a growing global need for mutual respect. He affirmed that Christian churches in Jordan enjoy equal dignity and respect without discrimination, highlighting the importance of safeguarding the unique diversity.
Dal Toso also said the Holy See and Jordan concur on a two-state solution as a cornerstone for regional peace. He called for support for education in historic Christian schools, helping underprivileged families secure educational opportunities for their children, boosting religious tourism, and recognizing Mount Nebo Church as a symbol of the deep-rooted spiritual ties between the two sides.